The trial will be a two-year outcome assessor-blinded RCT at the maternity ward of hospital Simão Mendes (HNSM) in urban Bissau, Guinea-Bissau to compare BCG-Japan versus BCG-Russia 1:1 in 15,000 infants with respect to mortality, morbidity and case-fatality rate during hospital admission. The trial will also examine the association between BCG strains and BCG skin reaction characteristics by six weeks (data collected by telephone) and at two and six months (data collected at home-visits to a subgroup of the cohort).
As a secondary aim, this large study will be used to further evaluate the role of maternal BCG immune priming for overall health, since there are indications that maternal BCG scarring enhances the non-specific effects of BCG.
Who can participate
Age range
0 Days – 42 Days
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Healthy infants present at the HNSM maternity ward on the day of discharge or procuring vaccination at the ward.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Infants older than 6 weeks (\>42 days) of age
* Infants that have already received either BCG or oral polio vaccine (OPV)
* Infants that are moribund due to gross malformation or acute illness (about to die or be transferred to the pediatric ward according to the local health physician assessment; the latter children may be recruited when they are discharged from the pediatric ward or the neonatal intensive care unit).
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Rate of all-cause mortality overall and stratified by maternal BCG scar status and sex